Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Conflict in Paris (18th Arrondissement)
(Hat tip to Euro News)
The above article describes how a group of residents in Paris' 18th arrondissement (city district) has written to French President Nicholas Sarkozy to complain about Friday prayers at a local mosque that spill out onto the sidewalk outside (video above).
Here is the letter, both in French and English:
L’appel au secours des habitants du 18ème arrondissement de Paris à M. Nicolas Sarkozy
Monsieur le Président,
Ceci est l’appel au secours des citoyens du 18ème arrondissement. Depuis des années tous les Vendredis certaines de nos rues sont occupées par des intégristes venus de toute la Région Parisienne pour pratiquer leurs activités cultuelles.
Les trottoirs sur des centaines de mètres sont réquisitionnés, mettant gravement en danger les piétons qui sont alors obligés de marcher sur la chaussée, dans la circulation pour contourner les « prieurs ».
Des rues entières sont barrées avec des voitures et des barrières de sécurité et interdites à la circulation, empêchant les habitants du quartier de sortir ou de rentrer chez eux, les commerçants de travailler, les citoyens ordinaires de circuler librement.
Toute protestation ou même simple tentative de pénétrer dans les zones occupées par ces intégristes entraîne pour toute personne qui s’y risquerait, insultes, menaces et agression et depuis longtemps plus personne n’ose protester tellement la peur est installée dans notre quartier.
Ne sommes-nous plus dans une République laïque? L’occupation de la voie publique sans autorisation pour des activités cultuelles n’est il pas un trouble à l’ordre public? Empêcher la libre circulation des citoyens sur la voie publique par la menace ou tout autre moyen est-il normal dans notre ville? Pourquoi n’avons-nous plus le droit de rentrer ou sortir de chez nous? Pourquoi devons-nous vivre dans un climat de peur?
M. Delanöe Maire de Paris connaît parfaitement notre situation, ainsi que M. Vaillant Maire du 18ème et M. Gaudin Préfet de Police, tous ont abandonné nos rues aux intégristes islamistes, ils ont abandonné les citoyens qui ne peuvent même plus marcher dans leur ville parce que certaines zones sont interdites aux non musulmans à l’heure de la prière.
Monsieur le Président, vous avez affirmé qu’en France il n’y avait pas de « zone de non-droit » alors comment appelez-vous des quartiers où les milices intégristes ferment les rues pour leur usage privé depuis des années sans que la Police n’intervienne pour rétablir l’Ordre Public?
Monsieur le Président, ne nous abandonnez pas vous aussi, faites cesser l’occupation de nos rues par les intégristes.
Les habitants du 18ème arrondissement de Paris.
Nous ne pouvons signer ce document par peur pour nos vies et celle de nos familles.
"Mr President
This is an appeal for help from the citizens of the 18th arrondissement. For several years now, certain of our streets have been occupied by fundamentalists who come from all over the Parisian region to practice their cult activities.
The pavements for hundreds of metres are taken over, putting pedestrians in grave danger as they are obliged to walk in the street to get past the people “praying”.
Entire streets are roped off with cars and security barriers and no entry signs, preventing the inhabitants of the area from going out or returning to their homes, the shopkeepers from working, ordinary citizens from circulating normally.
Every protest or even a simple attempt to penetrate into the zones occupied by these fundamentalists risks being met by insults, threats and aggression and for some time now no one dares to protest, such is the fear installed in our area.
Are we no longer a secular Republic? Isn’t occupation of the public highway by unauthorized cultural activities a public order offence? Is preventing the free circulation of citizens in public areas, by means of threats or other means, normal in our city? Why do we no longer have the right to enter or leave our homes? Why do we have to live in a climate of fear?
Mr. Delanöe, the Mayor of Paris, knows perfectly about our situation, as does Mr. Vaillant Mayor of the 18ème et Mr. Gaudin Préfet de Police. All of them have abandoned our streets to Islamic fundamentalists, they have abandoned their citizens who can no longer walk around their city because certain areas are out of bounds to non-muslims during prayer times.
Mr President, you have affirmed that in France there are no No-Go zones. So what would you call these areas or the militant fundamentalists who shut roads for their exclusive private use for a number of years now without the police intervening to re-establish public order?
Mr. President. Do not abandon us also. Stop this occupation of our streets by fundamentalists.
The inhabitants of the 18ème area of Paris.
We are not able to sign this document for fear of our lives and those of our families."
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The issue only underlines the increasingly volatile divide that exists between Europeans and Muslim immigrants. This divide was illustrated last week by the Swiss vote to ban minarets. The divide exists in numerous European countries and is headed toward a conflagration unless wise European leaders come up with a solution. In this case, it would seem that Paris city leaders could come up with a mutual agreement that would satisy both residents and worshipers. Apparently, they have not.
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2 comments:
Even if an agreement was found
between the residents and the
Muslims it would not last, nor
would it be to the Muslims
satisfaction. The only time
any agreement is good for Islam
is when it bends completely,
totally to the will of Islam and
ultimately, Shariah law.
It would be great if an accord
could be reached but this is a
snapshot of what you touch upon.
The problems of Muslim immigrants
throughout Europe. There
have rarely been peaceful solutions
with Islam since it's inception
in the 7th century. The writers
did not sign their names for the
obvious reasons!
Ingrid (who resides in Germany)
Just the fact that your experience had a bit of tension shows that the elations between Europeans and the immigrants is far from what it should be.
Along those lines, when I go to Germany including Erlangen, I have always had pleasant exchanges with the Turks. Superficial to be sure since I usually grab lunch in one of the Turkish kabob places and chat with them about my visits to Turkey. Of course, Germany and the Turks is not the same as France and the north Africans or UK and the largely Pakistani radicals there. I am the first to admit that when the Turks came to Germany to work decades ago, they were not treated well.
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